IZEL MARAS
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Head of Design 
Roon
2021 - 2024

Lead Designer
Verizon
2016 - 2020

Visual Designer
frog Design
2014 - 2016

AIGA Mentor

Tech Crit Advisor at 
Cornell Tech

Brooklyn 




Verizon Gizmo Smart Watch for Kids
ChallengeI was called in by the hardware design team to assist with the second generation of Verizon’s Gizmo Watch, a smart watch for kids that helps parents track their young children. The challenge was to improve the limited functionality of the current interface and create a more advanced, engaging experience for young users.

AudienceThe primary users of Gizmo Watch are children aged 2 - 8.

ContextThe team needed vision-based work to pitch for a more advanced interface. The existing interface was limited in functionality, so the goal was to design something simple yet effective. The challenge was to stay within Verizon's brand system while making the design playful and appealing to kids, deviating from Verizon’s typical black-and-white aesthetic.
SolutionI contributed to the interface designs for Gizmo Watch, aiming to create playful and child-friendly interfaces. I developed art direction and concept interfaces for Gizmo Watch 2, focusing on limited yet essential functionalities such as step tracking, tasks, and call mode. The interfaces were designed with kids in mind, ensuring they were intuitive, user-friendly, and whimsical. To bring color to the interfaces while staying within the brand system, I utilized Verizon's secondary color set.

ResultThe new interface designs envisioned a delightful and engaging experience for children, integrating seamlessly with Gizmo Watch features. The playful and colorful design maintained a childlike quality, making the device more appealing to its young users. It was rewarding to be part of the team that brought these improvements to life. 

Year2018

CollaboratorsVerizon Product & Gizmo Watch Teams